Slither (aka. Terry)

Motivation: Find a place in the world.

Skills

• Hit Man (4) Combat, stealth, and breaking the law.
• The Occult (3) His research covers many subjects.
• Run Away (3) Terry runs for his life more days than not.

Magic

Power 3 - Slither is a hive mind of serpents that can take on the form of a man. Given an hour or so, they can even grow a scaly skin with "painted on" fingernails, ears, and facial features. The illusion won't pass close inspection, but it'll work with long sleeves and a hood. The snakes can break through this skin at will to ensnare, bite, or escape from enemies.

Power 8 - Terry trades his services to a Great Spirit for protection from magical detection. Nothing about him (his thoughts, origins, location, etc.) can be divined by magical means. (Technological means, like radio beacons, work just fine.)

Notes

Terry (he named himself after the main character of his favorite cartoon show) is an Arisen being, born from wild magic. As such, he has no allegiance to any Great Spirit, nor any idea where or how he was created. He is driven by the desire to find his own place in the world, to understand why he exists. A small army of private investigators and academics who specialize in occultism leave no stone unturned to help Terry in his quest... for the right price. To pay them, Terry works as an assassin for hire, taking contracts from organized crime, government agencies, and the occasional private citizen. It's not something he's proud of, but it's one of the few things he's good at.

"Slither" is the name Terry uses when dealing with his employers. This subterfuge protects him not only from fearful humans, but also from the many spirits and spellbinders who would enslave or destroy him. Terry has also made a deal with a friendly Great Spirit to shield him from magical detection; in return, Slither renders it his services for free.

There are many ways to use Terry in a game, from simple monster to tragic villain to uneasy ally. His powers are truly terrifying to behold; serpents bursts forth through his skin or out of his mouth, then crawl back inside. When he scatters, his skin is ripped to shreds. He can even swallow small objects and regurgitate them on demand. Sending him after a PC, or a significant NPC, is an easy way to put Slither in your players' path. If they get to know him, they may find more humanity than monstrosity.